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Line 1241

καὶ Ζεὺς γέλοιος ὀμνύμενος τοῖς εἰδόσιν.

The phrase τοῖς εἰδόσιν ('to those who know') functions as a dative of the person with whom an oath is taken, a construction that, while attested, is less common than the standard accusative of the thing sworn by or the dative of the person to whom the oath is sworn (dativus commodi). Here, the specificity implies that the gods' oaths are binding only upon their own knowledge, effectively rendering Zeus's oath comical because it appeals to a standard of truth that the audience (and the characters) recognize as being compromised by the god's own ignorance or the play's satirical logic. This highlights the Aristophanic technique of subverting religious solemnity by reducing the divine oath to a tautology known only to the gods themselves, thereby exposing the absurdity of the premise that Zeus is the ultimate arbiter of truth in a world where he is also the source of deception.

Clouds. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.

Current edition Experimental

Commentary (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) (English) (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Νεφέλαι Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 1303-1320 focus

Χορός

οἷον τὸ πραγμάτων ἐρᾶν φλαύρων· ὁ γὰρ

γέρων ὅδʼ ἐρασθεὶς

ἀποστερῆσαι βούλεται
1305

τὰ χρήμαθʼ ἁδανείσατο·

κοὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως οὐ τήμερον

λήψεταί τι πρᾶγμʼ, ὃ τοῦτον

ποιήσει τὸν σοφιστὴν ἴσως,

ἀνθʼ ὧν πανουργεῖν ἤρξατʼ, ἐξαίφνης λαβεῖν κακόν τι.
1310

1311

Χορός

οἶμαι γὰρ αὐτὸν αὐτίχʼ εὑρήσειν ὅπερ

πάλαι ποτʼ †ἐπεζήτει†

εἶναι τὸν υἱὸν δεινόν οἱ

γνώμας ἐναντίας λέγειν

τοῖσιν δικαίοις, ὥστε νικᾶν
1315

ἅπαντας οἷσπερ ἂν

ξυγγένηται, κἂν λέγῃ παμπόνηρʼ.

ἴσως δʼ ἴσως βουλήσεται κἄφωνον αὐτὸν εἶναι.
1320

Translations (2)

Clouds Perseus (Aristophanes. The Comedies of Aristophanes, Vol. I. Hickie, William James, translator. Bohn: London, 1853.) — 1259 focus

Amynias.

Ah me! Ah me!

Strepsiades.

Ha! Whoever is this, who is lamenting? Surely it was not one of Carcinus’ deities that spoke.
1260

Amynias.

But why do you wish to know this, who I am?-A miserable man.

Strepsiades.

Then follow your own path.

Amynias.

O harsh fortune! O Fates, breaking the wheels of my horses! O Pallas, how you have destroyed me!

Strepsiades.

What evil, pray, has Tlepolemus ever done you?

Amynias.

Do not jeer me, my friend; but order your son to pay me the money which he received; especially as I have been unfortunate.

Strepsiades.

What money is this?
1270

Amynias.

That which he borrowed.

Strepsiades.

Then you were really unlucky, as I think.

Amynias.

By the gods, I fell while driving my horses.

Strepsiades.

Why, pray, do you talk nonsense, as if you had fallen from an ass?

Amynias.

Do I talk nonsense if I wish to recover my money?

Strepsiades.

You can’t be in your senses yourself.
1275

Amynias.

Why, pray?

Strepsiades.

You appear to me to have had your brains shaken as it were.

Amynias.

And you appear to me, by Hermes, to be going to be summoned, if you will not pay me the money?

Strepsiades.

Tell me now, whether you think that Jupiter

always rains fresh rain on each occasion, or that the sun draws from below the same water back again?
1280

Amynias.

I know not which; nor do I care.

Strepsiades.

How then is it just that you should recover your money, if you know nothing of meteorological matters?

Amynias.

Well, if you are in want, pay me the interest of my money.
1285

Strepsiades.

What sort of animal is this interest?

Amynias.

Most assuredly the money is always becoming more and more every month and every day as the time slips away.

Strepsiades.

You say well. What then? Is it possible that you consider the sea to be greater now than formerly?

Amynias.

No, by Jupiter, but equal; for it is not fitting that it should be greater.

Strepsiades.

And how then, you wretch does this become no way greater, though the rivers flow into it, while you

seek to increase your money? Will you not take yourself off from my house? Bring me the goad.
1295

Enter Servant with a goad.

Amynias.

I call you to witness these things.

Strepsiades.
(beating him).

Go! Why do you delay? Won’t you march, Mr. Blood-horse?

Amynias.

Is not this an insult, pray?

Strepsiades.

Will you move quickly? Pricks him behind with the goad. I’ll lay on you, goading you behind, you outrigger? Do you fly? Amynias runs off. I thought I should stir you, together with your wheels and your two-horse chariots.

Exit Strepsiades.

English (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) Experimental (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) — 1259 focus

Amyntias: Alas, alas!

Strepsiades: Let it be.

1260

Strepsiades: Who is this, pray, that is lamenting? No, surely not.

Strepsiades: Did one of the gods of Cancer speak?

Amyntias: But why does anyone wish to know this about me?

Amyntias: a wretched man.

Strepsiades: Now turn against yourself.

Aminias: O hard-hearted daemon, O fates, shatters of chariots!

Aminias: Oh, Pallas, how you have ruined my horses.

1265

Strepsiades: What evil, then, has Telephus ever done to you?

Amyntias: Do not mock me, you fellows, but give me the money.

Aminias: 'Order him to give back the son; he has not taken him.'

Aminias: Moreover, and indeed, to someone who has fared badly.

Strepsiades: Which money is this?

1270

Amyntias: He borrowed it.

Strepsiades: you were indeed in bad shape, as it seems to me.

Amyntias: I fell off while driving horses, by the gods.

Strepsiades: Why on earth are you babbling as if you had fallen from a donkey?

Aminias: I am babbling, [to think that] I shall get the money if I want?

Strepsiades: It is not possible that you yourself are in good health.

1275

Amyntias: Why, then?

Strepsiades: You seem to me to be shaking my brain just as you do yourself.

Aminias: And by Hermes, you are to be summoned by me,

Aminias: unless you return the money.

Strepsiades: Now tell it down,

Strepsiades: do you think that Zeus is always new?

Strepsiades: To rain water every time, or the sun

1280

Strepsiades: to draw up this same water again from below?

Aminias: I don't know, indeed, which, nor does it concern me.

Strepsiades: How, then, can you justly receive the money,

Strepsiades: If you know nothing of the lofty matters?

Aminias: But if you are in need, give me the interest on the silver.

1285

Amyntias: give it back.

Strepsiades: But what sort of monster is this interest?

Amyntias: What else, then, but every month and every day?

Amyntias: the money is always becoming more.

Amyntias: 'As time slips by?'

Strepsiades: You speak well.

Strepsiades: And what then? Is the sea, for example, larger?

1290

Strepsiades: Now do you think so, or before?

Amyntias: By Zeus, but it is equal.

Amyntias: for it is not just to be more.

Strepsiades: And then how?

Strepsiades: This, alas, does not happen at all.

Strepsiades: with the rivers overflowing, more, but you

Strepsiades: Do you want to make your money more?

1295

Strepsiades: Won't he drive you out of the house?

Strepsiades: bring me the gimlet.

Amyntias: I testify to this.

Strepsiades: Go. Why are you delaying? Do you not drive on, you wretch?

Aminias: Is this certainly not hubris?

Strepsiades: Will you sing? I will catch you.

Strepsiades: I will sting you, the tail-carrier, right under your buttocks.

1300

Strepsiades: Are you fleeing? Was I about to stir you up, then?

Strepsiades: With your wheels and your yokes.

Commentary

Commentary (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) focus

1241. mvp-tlg0019-tlg003-sanjaya-com-eng1-87

Line 1241

καὶ Ζεὺς γέλοιος ὀμνύμενος τοῖς εἰδόσιν.

Aristophanes Clouds 1241

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Line 1241

Current edition Experimental

Amynias.

Ah me! Ah me!

Strepsiades.

Ha! Whoever is this, who is lamenting? Surely it was not one of Carcinus’ deities that spoke.
1260

Amynias.

But why do you wish to know this, who I am?-A miserable man.

Strepsiades.

Then follow your own path.

Amynias.

O harsh fortune! O Fates, breaking the wheels of my horses! O Pallas, how you have destroyed me!

Strepsiades.

What evil, pray, has Tlepolemus ever done you?

Amynias.

Do not jeer me, my friend; but order your son to pay me the money which he received; especially as I have been unfortunate.

Strepsiades.

What money is this?
1270

Amynias.

That which he borrowed.

Strepsiades.

Then you were really unlucky, as I think.

Amynias.

By the gods, I fell while driving my horses.

Strepsiades.

Why, pray, do you talk nonsense, as if you had fallen from an ass?

Amynias.

Do I talk nonsense if I wish to recover my money?

Strepsiades.

You can’t be in your senses yourself.
1275

Amynias.

Why, pray?

Strepsiades.

You appear to me to have had your brains shaken as it were.

Amynias.

And you appear to me, by Hermes, to be going to be summoned, if you will not pay me the money?

Strepsiades.

Tell me now, whether you think that Jupiter

always rains fresh rain on each occasion, or that the sun draws from below the same water back again?
1280

Amynias.

I know not which; nor do I care.

Strepsiades.

How then is it just that you should recover your money, if you know nothing of meteorological matters?

Amynias.

Well, if you are in want, pay me the interest of my money.
1285

Strepsiades.

What sort of animal is this interest?

Amynias.

Most assuredly the money is always becoming more and more every month and every day as the time slips away.

Strepsiades.

You say well. What then? Is it possible that you consider the sea to be greater now than formerly?

Amynias.

No, by Jupiter, but equal; for it is not fitting that it should be greater.

Strepsiades.

And how then, you wretch does this become no way greater, though the rivers flow into it, while you

seek to increase your money? Will you not take yourself off from my house? Bring me the goad.
1295

Amynias.

I call you to witness these things.

Strepsiades.
(beating him).

Go! Why do you delay? Won’t you march, Mr. Blood-horse?

Amynias.

Is not this an insult, pray?

Strepsiades.

Will you move quickly? Pricks him behind with the goad. I’ll lay on you, goading you behind, you outrigger? Do you fly? Amynias runs off. I thought I should stir you, together with your wheels and your two-horse chariots.

Commentary

Line 1241

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1241

Current edition Experimental

Amynias. Ah me! Ah me!

Strepsiades. Ha! Whoever is this, who is lamenting? Surely it was not one of Carcinus’ deities that spoke. 1260

Amynias. But why do you wish to know this, who I am?-A miserable man.

Strepsiades. Then follow your own path.

Amynias. O harsh fortune! O Fates, breaking the wheels of my horses! O Pallas, how you have destroyed me!

Strepsiades. What evil, pray, has Tlepolemus ever done you?

Amynias. Do not jeer me, my friend; but order your son to pay me the money which he received; especially as I have been unfortunate.

Strepsiades. What money is this? 1270

Amynias. That which he borrowed.

Strepsiades. Then you were really unlucky, as I think.

Amynias. By the gods, I fell while driving my horses.

Strepsiades. Why, pray, do you talk nonsense, as if you had fallen from an ass?

Amynias. Do I talk nonsense if I wish to recover my money?

Strepsiades. You can’t be in your senses yourself. 1275

Amynias. Why, pray?

Strepsiades. You appear to me to have had your brains shaken as it were.

Amynias. And you appear to me, by Hermes, to be going to be summoned, if you will not pay me the money?

Strepsiades. Tell me now, whether you think that Jupiter always rains fresh rain on each occasion, or that the sun draws from below the same water back again? 1280

Amynias. I know not which; nor do I care.

Strepsiades. How then is it just that you should recover your money, if you know nothing of meteorological matters?

Amynias. Well, if you are in want, pay me the interest of my money. 1285

Strepsiades. What sort of animal is this interest?

Amynias. Most assuredly the money is always becoming more and more every month and every day as the time slips away.

Strepsiades. You say well. What then? Is it possible that you consider the sea to be greater now than formerly?

Amynias. No, by Jupiter, but equal; for it is not fitting that it should be greater.

Strepsiades. And how then, you wretch does this become no way greater, though the rivers flow into it, while you seek to increase your money? Will you not take yourself off from my house? Bring me the goad. 1295

Amynias. I call you to witness these things.

Strepsiades. (beating him). Go! Why do you delay? Won’t you march, Mr. Blood-horse?

Amynias. Is not this an insult, pray?

Strepsiades. Will you move quickly? Pricks him behind with the goad. I’ll lay on you, goading you behind, you outrigger? Do you fly? Amynias runs off. I thought I should stir you, together with your wheels and your two-horse chariots.

Commentary

Line 1241

Stable identifiers

Amynias.

Ah me! Ah me!

Strepsiades.

Ha! Whoever is this, who is lamenting? Surely it was not one of Carcinus’ deities that spoke.
1260

Amynias.

But why do you wish to know this, who I am?-A miserable man.

Strepsiades.

Then follow your own path.

Amynias.

O harsh fortune! O Fates, breaking the wheels of my horses! O Pallas, how you have destroyed me!

Strepsiades.

What evil, pray, has Tlepolemus ever done you?

Amynias.

Do not jeer me, my friend; but order your son to pay me the money which he received; especially as I have been unfortunate.

Strepsiades.

What money is this?
1270

Amynias.

That which he borrowed.

Strepsiades.

Then you were really unlucky, as I think.

Amynias.

By the gods, I fell while driving my horses.

Strepsiades.

Why, pray, do you talk nonsense, as if you had fallen from an ass?

Amynias.

Do I talk nonsense if I wish to recover my money?

Strepsiades.

You can’t be in your senses yourself.
1275

Amynias.

Why, pray?

Strepsiades.

You appear to me to have had your brains shaken as it were.

Amynias.

And you appear to me, by Hermes, to be going to be summoned, if you will not pay me the money?

Strepsiades.

Tell me now, whether you think that Jupiter

always rains fresh rain on each occasion, or that the sun draws from below the same water back again?
1280

Amynias.

I know not which; nor do I care.

Strepsiades.

How then is it just that you should recover your money, if you know nothing of meteorological matters?

Amynias.

Well, if you are in want, pay me the interest of my money.
1285

Strepsiades.

What sort of animal is this interest?

Amynias.

Most assuredly the money is always becoming more and more every month and every day as the time slips away.

Strepsiades.

You say well. What then? Is it possible that you consider the sea to be greater now than formerly?

Amynias.

No, by Jupiter, but equal; for it is not fitting that it should be greater.

Strepsiades.

And how then, you wretch does this become no way greater, though the rivers flow into it, while you

seek to increase your money? Will you not take yourself off from my house? Bring me the goad.
1295

Amynias.

I call you to witness these things.

Strepsiades.
(beating him).

Go! Why do you delay? Won’t you march, Mr. Blood-horse?

Amynias.

Is not this an insult, pray?

Strepsiades.

Will you move quickly? Pricks him behind with the goad. I’ll lay on you, goading you behind, you outrigger? Do you fly? Amynias runs off. I thought I should stir you, together with your wheels and your two-horse chariots.